Chicago – August 15, 2024
On Thursday, the Congress Party strongly objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Defence Ministry for seating Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, in the back rows during the Independence Day ceremony. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal criticized Modi’s decision, calling it arrogant.
He dismissed the Defence Ministry’s explanation that the seating was adjusted to honor Olympians, pointing out the inconsistency of placing Cabinet ministers like Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman in the front rows, while Gandhi was placed in the fifth row.
Venugopal emphasized that traditionally, Leaders of the Opposition are seated in the front row, and this deviation not only insulted Gandhi but also the citizens he represents. He suggested that the seating change was an attempt to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate added that Modi continually demonstrates a petty mindset and stressed that the Leader of the Opposition deserves the same seating recognition as Cabinet ministers.
